Improvement in pistol-handles



F. DE GBESS.

Pistol Handles.

atented April 28,1874.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EEANoIs DE GRESS, 0E BLOOMFIELD, NEW JEEsEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN PISTOL-HANDLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 150,229, dated April 28, 1874; application filed April 3, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS DE GREss, of Bloomfield, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented an Improvement in Pistol-Handles, of which the following is a specification:

Pistol-handles have heretofore been made with removable cheek-pieces or slabs at the sides of the metal stock, and these have been of wood, ivory, and other material, and usually ornamented by carving. These are expensive, especially when the carving is elaborate and highly ornamental.

My improvement relates to a new article of manufacture, consisting of an electrotype shell filled with type-metal, or similar alloy, and concaved in the inner surfaces, and provided with the holes for attaching pins or screws, and colored by the action of acid to imitate bronze. These handle-pieces are accurate in size and shape, and the designs upon the surface can be of the most elaborate and beautiful character without increasing the cost after the first one has been produced.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a side view of one of the handle-pieces. Fig. 2 represents the inner surface and Fig. 3 shows, sectionally, the two handlepieces connected.

In order to more fully indicate in what the improvement consists, I have described the mode of manufacturing this article.

I take a properly-prepared handle-piece that is accurate in all particulars, and make a copy thereof in gutta-percha, plaster, or other suitable material, and form therein an eleotrotype shell by the deposit of copper in any of the known modes. I piovide a press-block of a piece of wood, metal, or plaster, of shape corresponding to the inside or concave surface of the pattern-handle, and after pouring melted type or other metal into the inside of the electrotype shell I press into the same the said press-block,.so as to force out surplus metal, and give the required shape and thickness to the handle-piece, and at the same time form the holes required for the connecting screws or pins. Any fins or surplus metal are now dressed off, and the handle-piece is put into an acid to change the color of the copper to that of a bronze, and the handle is ready for use after the usual washing or cleaning; or the copper may be silver-plated or gilded, in the usual manner.

It will be preferable to insert a screw through the press-block for the shell receiving the end of the connecting-screw b, so that the thread for the same will be cast, and this screw will be unscrewed before the press-block is removed.

A pistol-handle made in this manner is a very beautiful article. It is durable and much cheaper than those now in use.

I claim as my invention-- The pistol-handle herein described, consisting of the elect-rotype-finished exterior with a backing of type or other metal, as set forth.

Signed by me this 30th day of March, A. D.

' FRANCIS DE GRESS. Witnesses:

GEO. T. PINCKNEY, CHAS. H. SMITH. 

